Advocates For Faith & Freedom Files Amicas Brief in Support of Colorado Cakemaker

Even though the Constitution guarantee’s Christian bakery owner, Jack Phillips’ religious freedom, LGBT activists and the State of Colorado filed a lawsuit, accusing him of intolerance and discrimination. They’re demanding the government force him to design cakes for same-sex weddings and violate his faith.

In the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission lawsuit, Jack is being told by the courts that he must employ his artistic, cake-decorating talent for a homosexual wedding, even though supporting and celebrating same-sex marriage conflicts with his biblical beliefs that tell him to honor Christ, always.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10New Living Translation (NLT)

In our Amicas (friend of the court) Brief filed September 7, 2017, we address the question of whether Colorado’s panel of judges “unnecessarily” violated Jack Phillips’ free speech and free-exercise rights by “falsely equating his sincerely held religious beliefs about marriage with discrimination for the reason that petitioners [Charlie Craig and David Mullins] are homosexual.”

The reason Jack Phillips declined to participate in making the same-sex wedding cake was not because of Craig’s and Mullins’ sexual orientation. It was because Phillips believes that the Bible’s teachings about marriage “are literally true, and that its commands are binding on him.” As related to the administrative law judge, Phillips told Craig and Mullins, “I’ll make you birthday cakes, shower cakes, sell you cookies and brownies, I just don’t make cakes for same-sex weddings.”

Our Amicas Brief argues that this case is not a case of “intentional discrimination;” it’s about two personal and moral beliefs. The same disagreement that is taking place around the country between same-sex couples who seek, and often demand respect and privileges, and reasonable and sincere business owners who adhere to a religious conviction that marriage is a union between one man and one woman.

Same-sex couples argue that not participating in their weddings harms their dignity. By contrast, religious business owners believe they are harmed if compelled to violate their conscience and participate in these events. Our brief explains that, “Phillips’ liberty to obey his conscience is just as central to his identity and dignity as Craig’s and Mullins’ liberty to buy a wedding cake from a willing baker. “

In addition, “After creating this unnecessary legal conflict out of a personal disagreement, the Colorado courts left no way to resolve it without impugning someone’s dignity. No standard exists for weighing the dignity of same-sex couples against the dignity of Bible-believing Christians, nor vice versa.”

This consequential case is now on the October docket of the U.S. Supreme Court. We are honored to join Alliance Defending Freedom and the Trump Administration’s JusticeDepartment in seeking justice for Jack Phillips and Christian business owners around the country!

We are optimistic that the Justices’ decision will honor the Constitution so that, as our brief pleads, our country can “preserve the principled pluralism in which legal justice is vindicated and individuals and communities of differing moral beliefs can flourish side-by-side.”

As our country grieves in the aftermath of the horrific massacre of innocent concert-goers in Las Vegas, we faithfully turn to God, asking that our tearful prayers lift the victims and their families up in a comfort and healing only He can provide. “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.” 2 Kings 20:5 (NIV)